Ashtray construction



Sept. 17, 1968 N. l.. RossMAN 3,401,702

ASHTRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed March 24, 1966 "umili" I I 1 l I 1 y l,

United States Patent O 3,401,702 ASHTRAY CONSTRUCTION Norton L. Rossman,4461 Howard Ave., Western Springs, Ill. 60558 Filed Mar. 24, 1966, Ser.No. 537,175 3 Claims. (Cl. 131-235) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Adisposable ashtray composed of foil-lined paperboard has a cigarettesupporting ledge formed in ia double-wall portion thereof. The foilsurfacing of the ledge and of the adjacent multiple layers of the wallserve to extinguish the cigarette when the lighted end is ydisposed onsaid ledge.

This invention relates to an ashtray construction, and more particularlypertains to an ashtray which is adapted to extinguish unattended,lighted cigarettes supported thereby.

The re hazard inherent in lighted cigarettes is well known and generallyrecognized. However, re tragedies created by lighted cigarettes `ofpersons who doze olf without extinguishing such cigarettes are all toocommon. &1ch tragedies could in many instances be avoided if a small,lightweight ashtray were readily accessible to the individual smoking.Such avoidance would be further guaranteed if the ashtray employed wouldassure extinction of the lighted end of the cigarette when =held by thetray and left unattended.

An ashtray construction which is possessed of the above safety features,and in addition may be made of foillined paperboard or the like so as tobe -disposable in nature, is most desirable. Such constructions areparticularly desirable where large gatherings of the smoking public arepresent and the space available must be efficiently utilized. Thus, suchreceptacles are desirable in large gatherings in -auditoriums or thelike where smoking is permitted, and in planes and other oonveyanceswhere permanent seat ashtrays are not conveniently accessible las whenserving meals. The provision of individual trays which possess the abovesafety features and yet are so inexpensive as to be disposable innature, serve to increase the comfort of the individuals smoking Whilemaintaining maximum safety precautions.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an ashtraycomposed of foil-lined paper, paperboard or the like which is adapted toextinguish a lighted cigarette supported therein if forgotten or leftunattended.

It is another object of this invention to provide a lightweight ashtrayconstruction which is of such simple construction that it may bemanufactured at very low cost and treated as a disposable item whileinherently providing the utmost in safety.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an ashtrayconstruction which is adapted for use as a novelty item and advertisingmedium, while possessing a Safety feature not present in ordinaryashtray constructions.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparentfrom a reading of the following description in the light of thevaccompanying drawing and appended claims.

In one embodiment of this invention a paperboard blank lined on opposedsurfaces with aluminum foil is folded along score lines into areceptacle having a planar bottom bounded by four surrounding wallportions. To assist tray permanence yof assembly, two of the opposedwalls are of double thickness, the inner thicknesses serving :as lockingflaps retaining the erected blank in a rigid state of assembly.

The blank is initially die cut so that an upper distal edge portion ofone of the double walls, when erected, possesses a flap hinged alonglowermost portions to the double wall thicknesses. After tray erection,the flap is pushed downwardly with each twin flap portion for-med fromeach of the sidewall thicknesses bending in the middle thereof so as toform a substantially horizontal ledge Vfor supporting a cigarette. Theaperture resulting from the flap-ledge formation is of such dimension asto snugly engage a major peripheral portion of a cigarette placed on theledge.

If left unattended, a lighted cigarette resting on the ledge will becomeautomatically extinguished when the lighted end of the cigarette reachesthe ledge. The snug engagement of the cigarette periphery preventsfalling of the cigarette from the tray ledge, despite the cigarettelength extending exteriorly of the tray, as will hereinafter bedescribed in greater detail.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will nowbe made to the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a blank which may be employed for formingan ashtray in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ashtray in the setup conditionstormed from the blank of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrated on an enlarged scaleof an alternate manner of forming a cigarette-supporting ledge from theblank of FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of an ashtray construction made inaccordance with this invention utilizing a modied form ofcigarette-receiving aperture.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. l, an integral blank 10 isillustrated which may be formed of paper, paperboard, iberboard, orsimilar materials and which has on opposed surfaces thereof a metal foillining. Being formed of rather inexpensive materials of composition, theprovided blank is of low cost, and as will become hereinafter apparent,because of its lack of any unusual structural feature, may be readilyformed in an eicient manner by a simple die-cutting operation from aIbase sheet.

The blank 10 comprises a central bottom panel 14 which may be square asillustrated, or of other preferably rectilinear peripheral congurationhaving a plurality of sides. The bottom panel 14 is integrally connectedby means of score lines 16 and 18 to opposed sidewall panels 20 and 22,respectively. The latter panels are in turn integrally formed withsidewall locking panels 24 and 26, respectively, by means of score lines28 and 30, respectively.

Also joined to the bottom panel 14 and oppositely disposed to each otherare `single sidewall panels 32 and 34 which are hingedly connected tothe bottom panel along score lines 36 and 38, respectively. Panel 32 isintegrally formed with opposed tab portions 40 and 42 by means of scorelines 44 and 46, respectively. Opposed sidewall panel 34 is integrallyformed with opposed tab portions 48 and 50by means of score lines 52 and54, respectively.

It will be further noted from FIG. l that opposed, arcuate cuts 56 areformed in the sidewall panel 20 and the connected locking sidewall panel24. It will be further noted that cut-out portion 5S, defined by cuts56, remains connected to sidewall panel 20 by means of score lines 60and cut-out portion 58a also remains connected to locking sidewall panel24 by means of score lines 62.

The blank of FIG. l may be readily set up into the rigid ashtray 64 ofFIG. 2. In the course of being set up, the blank first has the opposedfiaps 40 and 42 of sidewall 32 inwardly folded along score lines 44 .and46 after which the sidewall and attached tabs are inwardly folded intoan acute angular relationship along score line 36 relative to the bottompanel 14 of the blank 10. Opposed tabs 48 and 50 connected to sidewall34 are similarly inwardly folded relative to sidewall panel 34, aft-erwhich the sidewall and attached tabs are folded into an acute angularrelationship with the bottom panel 14 along score line 38.

Following7 the latter folding operations, the opposed sidewall andlocking wall assemblies -24 and 22-26 are inwardly folded along scorelines 16 and 18, respectively. The locking wall panels 24 and 26 arethen folded relative to the larger sidewalls 20 and 22 along score lines28 and 30, respectively, and in the course of being downwardly folded,overlap tabs and 48, and 42 and 50. It is preferred that the lockingsidewall panels 24 and 26 be of a greater height'than the largersidewall panels 20 and 22, respectively, to which they remain attached.Thus, when folded downwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 2,distal edges 66 and 68 of the locking sidewalls 24 and 26, respectively,will frictionally engage a surface portion of the bottom panel 14adjacent the score lines 16 and 18, respectively. The latter frictionalengagement will retain the set-up tray assembly 64 of FIG. 2 in a stateof rigidity in which none of the iiap or panel portions are free to moverelative to adjacent portions to which such flap or panel portions areconnected.

Cut-out portions 58 and 58a formed from the sidewall 20 and lockinglsidewall 24 may be then pushed downwardly, in the manner illustrated inFIG. 2, forcing cutout portion 58, formed from sidewall panel 20, tofold along a transverse centerline. Simultaneously cut-out portion 58formed from locking sidewall panel 24 is forced to similarly fold inhalf along a transverse foldline. To facilitate the latter foldingsteps, score lines 59 and 61, as seen in FIG. 1, may be formed in thecut-out portions 58 and 58a.

The cut-out portions 58 and 58a, as will be noted from FIG. 2, define asubstantial horizontal ledge portion in parallel relationship withbottom panel 14 on which a lighted cigarette may be rested with thelighted end disposed over the bottom panel 14. The cuts 56 made in thepanels 20 and 24 are defined so that aperture 70, resulting from theformation of the ledge S8, 58a, is of such size and configuration so asto snugly receive a major peripheral portion of a cigarette member whichis disposed on the ledge illustrated in FIG. 2. The intersection of thearcuate portions of the edges assists in preventing separation of themembers 20 and 24, as may be seen in the same ligure.

By virtue of such snug engagement, a cigarette may have the majorportion of its length disposed exteriorly of the tray 64 without anydanger of the cigarette tipping ouwardly, free of engagement with theashtray. It is believed apparent that if a cigarette is snugly retainedwithin the opening 70 of the ashtray 64, the center of gravity of thecigarette constantly moves to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, therebycreating an increasingly greater tendency for the cigarette to be freeof engagement with the ledge on which disposed. However, while thecigarette is engaged by the portions of the panels 20 and 24 definingthe opening 70, the cigarette will be firmly retained in place.

It has been found that by utilization of such a ledge and the snugperipheral engagement of the cigarette depicted in FIG. 2, a burningcigarette will automatically extinguish itself as the lit end approachesaperture 70 of the tray 64. For purposes of carrying out this inven- 4tion, the cut-out portions 58 and 58a need not be centrally folded inthe manner illustrated in FIGS. l and 2 but may be urged as a unitarydouble-walled flap portion inwardly over the bottom panel 14 in themanner of ap 59 comprising a portion of the tray 64a illustrated in FIG.3.

As will be seen more clearly from FIG. 3, inasmuch as all exposedsurfaces of ashtray 64a are covered with the aluminum or other metalfoil 12 comprising an excellent heat-conducting material, as the lightedend of the cigarette approaches ledge portion 59, the heat of thelighted cigarette will be conducted thereby. In addition, the foillining of the opposed surfaces of each sidewall portion 20u and 24a alsoserves as heat-conducting means tending to dissipate the heat generatedby the lighted end of the cigarette.

It is believed that this rapid heat dissipation carried out by thevarious foil layers reduces the temperature at the lighted end of thecigarette whereby the cigarette extinguishes itself while disposed onthe ledge portion 58, 58a or 59 and while rmly retained by the opposedsidewall portions defining the cigarette-engaging apertures 70 or 70a ofthe two tray embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It is seen, therefore, that the simple foil lining on an integralpaperboard blank construction efficiently serves to extinguish a lightedcigarette when placed in a holding aperture disposed in one of thesidewalls of the ashtray formed from such a blank.

The cuts 56, formed in the sidewalls 20 and 24, need not be of anarcuate character but may be straight so as to define aperture 71 suchas illustrated in FIG. 4, depicting ashtray construction 65.

It is believed obvious that the uses to which the abovedescribed ashtrayconstruction may be put are many. Any or all of the exterior surfaces ofthe set-up tray may have advertising material printed thereon. Althoughso inexpensive as to be disposable, the provided ashtrays may lastindefinitely while retaining their extinguishing propertiesindefinitely. T he provided tray may be readily distributed to largegatherings where smoking is permitted, at a minimum of expense, whileassuring the utmost in safety not found in the ordinary ashtrayconstruction. The above-described tray may also be used to goodadvantage by being served with meal trays on airplanes where space is ata premium and the usual permanent ashtrays normally found in the seatarm are not readily accessible.

The blank 10 and the particular tray construction disclosed is not ofprimary importance since it is obvious that trays having radicallydifferent configurations from that shown in the drawing and possessing atotally unlike appearance may also incorporate the above invention. Itis apparent that trays of constructions and appearances different fromthat described may still possess the extinguishing feature inherent inthe ashtray of the drawing, and accordingly, this invention is to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain thecharacter of my invention that others may, be applying currentknowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions ofservice, while retaining certain features which may properly be said toconstitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items areintended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An ashtray construction comprising a bottom having sidewalls upwardlyextending therefrom defining an ashreceiving receptacle, at least one ofsaid sidewalls being of two separable layers, a substantially horizontalcigarette-supporting ledge of two layers and having intersecting arcuateedges formed from an upper portion of said sidewall of two layers; saidledge layers being joined to said sidewall layers to each other, saidledge layers forming a cigarette-receiving aperture in the sidewalllayers and forming twin supporting ledge portions extending inwardly andoutwardly of said receptacle; said ledge including an upper layerresting over said connections with said sidewall layers; saidintersecting arcuate edges of said twin ledge portions engaging andassisting at the intersection in maintaining opposed thicknesses of saidsidewalls in assembled relationship.

2. The ashtray construction of claim 1 in which said sidewall layers andledge portions formed therefrom have metallic surfaces adapted toreadily conduct heat t0 eX- tinguish a cigarette when the lighted end isdisposed on said ledge.

3. The ashtray construction of claim 1 in which said ashtray is formedof an integral yblank comprising a paperboard core lined on opposedsurfaces with aluminum foil.

D. 68,983 D. 111,173 D. 171,527 1,667,663 1,722,465 1,785,305 2,071,3942,073,498 2,167,261 2,179,081 2,298,146 3,270,752

JOSEPH S.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Moss.

Cass.

Brown.

Hoos 131--240 Gray.

`Grilley 131-240 Douglas 131 231 XR Seez 131-240 Sadtler 131-231 Bench131-240 Mersbach 131--231 XR Dorrance 131-240 REICH, Primary Examiner.

